The Town of Mosman Park is considering making it easier to build across the suburb by reducing the need for “unnecessary” development approvals.
The council will vote at next week’s meeting on a new local planning policy — the exemption from development approval and temporary development policy.
It is intended to allow “minor” development variations with “insignificant” impacts on streetscape, amenity and adjoining properties to be built without development approval. Currently, these variations require a full planning assessment.
This is expected to streamline the planning approval process, reduce excessive administrative burdens for residents and the town, and supply more dwellings across Mosman Park.
The policy applies to developments where approval would have been required under local planning scheme no. 3. It does not remove the requirement for building permits, heritage approvals and approvals required under other legislation.
Single houses and up to two grouped dwellings on the same lot that met residential design codes would be exempt.
The policy also encompasses minor development works including non-residential works that do not alter building height or setbacks, signage, temporary viewing platforms and secondary structures such as swimming pools and solar panels.
Temporary structures will be exempt if they are in place for up to one year, unless otherwise agreed with the town.
This includes construction site offices, storage containers and temporary toilets. The structure can only be on the development site while works are ongoing, it must not cause significant traffic or noise, it must not remove regulated trees and only one corresponding sign is permitted.
Specific WA Planning Commission approval is required to implement proposed exemptions for open space, outdoor living areas and visual privacy modifications
Developments involving a 5 per cent reduction of the required open space will be allowed as long as existing regulated trees are retained. If this is not possible, more trees must be planted to the town’s satisfaction.
Outdoor living area length and width can be reduced up to 500mm, and the permanent roof cover can be reduced up to 5sqm if the area maintains northern solar orientation.
Visual privacy reductions up to 500mm will also be allowed, if visual privacy to neighbouring outdoor living areas is not compromised.
Five responses were received during the community consultation period in August. Respondents were split between whether the policy was “too permissive” with 60 per cent, or “about right” with 40 per cent.
The main concerns were about residential setbacks impact on tree planting and amenity, and open space impacts on biodiversity and climate change. Respondents also questioned the definition of “temporary” when considering temporary development structures.
Town staff described it as “reasonably well received”, and said the streamlined policy would increase the number of dwellings built each year.
This would support Mosman Park’s requirement to supply an additional 1500 dwellings by 2050 under the State Government’s Perth and Peel @ 3.5 million framework. It would also increase the number of ratepayers and boost the town’s income sources.